Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Nine North Dakota Wetland Management Districts

Description

This plan is for the following wetland management districts:

Arrowwood

Audubon

Chase Lake

Crosby

Devils Lake

J. Clark Salyer

Kulm

Lostwood

Valley City

The comprehensive conservation plan sets the management and use of the nine North Dakota wetland management districts for 15 years. The districts are located primarily east and north of the Missouri River, from the Canadian border south to the State line of South Dakota. The prairies of North Dakota have become an ecological treasure of biological importance for waterfowl and other migratory birds. While the prairies support a wide diversity of wildlife, they are most famous for their role in waterfowl production.

Established in the early 1960s, the purposes of the districts are for wetland preservation, waterfowl and other wildlife production, and maintenance of breeding grounds for migratory birds. The Service designated the districts as part of the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program under the following authorities:

Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act—"As waterfowl production areas subject to all provisions of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act … except the inviolate sanctuary provisions." The act also provides for the conservation, protection, and propagation of native fish and wildlife.

Migratory Bird Conservation Act—"For any other management purposes, for migratory birds," including meeting the obligations of the United States under the migratory bird treaty with Great Britain.

These nine wetland management districts occur across five physiographic regions: Red River Valley, Glaciated Plains, Turtle Mountains, Missouri Coteau, and Coteau Slope. The districts have a very high density of wetlands important to waterfowl and migratory birds. Furthermore, the districts protect large blocks of intact native prairie through conservation easements and fee-title ownership.

Broken out by district below, the nine districts manage more than 1,000 waterfowl production areas, tens of thousands of conservation easements, and 37 wildlife development areas in 33 counties across North Dakota. These district lands of more than 1 million acres are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.